Cost-cutting British embassy in France swaps Champagne for crémant

Britain's four consulates around France are staying put for now even if they are "a bit over scale", according to the British Ambassador to France, Sir Peter Westmacott.

The British Embassy in France has stopped serving Champagne at most events and opted instead for crémant (sparkling white wine) at a third of the price of the original bubblyPhoto: GETTY

Henry Samuel in Paris

7:00AM BST 27 Sep 2010

However, since last autumn, the Embassy inFrance has stopped serving Champagne at most events and opted instead for crémant (sparkling white wine) at a third of the price of the original bubbly.

Sir Peter said that the Queen's birthday party had also been turned from an annual event, to one held every other year.

The British consular and visa sections in central Paris that used to be in two separate buildings in rue d'Anjou, in the chic 1st arrondissement, have just been merged into one building, saving €200,000 euros a year in rent.

The visa, passport and consular protection teams are now gathered in the old consular building, which has been "modernised and done up", making it a "much better working environment," Sir Peter told The Daily Telegraph.

The British delegation to the OECD, which used to have its own offices near the organisation's Paris headquarters, has been relocated within the Embassy, thus saving at least another €200,000 euros a year, he said.

However, there are no plans to move out of the Embassy, a palatial residence bought by the Duke of Wellington a stone's throw from the Elysée Palace, with magnificent gardens and a lawn tennis court.

"The Residence has been here for 200 years and is not being contemplated, as far as I am aware, being given up as it is considered a major asset," said Sir Peter.

To reduce costs, the Embassy increasingly hosts sponsored events usually with firms with links to Britain.

Commercial companies can rent out the Embassy for functions, in exchange for paying staff costs, including overtime, food and drink plus as "modest" hire fee.

"In return, they get the use of the house and an evening co-hosted by me," he said.